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GreenSplash is a New Zealand-based
business that:
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provides literary support
services (illustrating, editing,
proof-reading, design and
lay-out, writing and marketing
advice) to authors and others |
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provides hands-on, practical
business services (including
coaching, mentoring and
development) to small and medium
businesses.
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GreenSplash has been operating for over
6 years, more recently with a literary
services focus.
In both the
literary and business services areas, I
aim to help my clients make their
projects (whether a book or a business)
the best that they can be.
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I live in Waitara, Taranaki, with my
husband, Andrew. Here are a few of
the things that keep me occupied:
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providing literary support
services to authors
(illustrating, editing,
proof-reading, design and
lay-out, writing and marketing
advice) |
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painting on canvas and paper,
and sketching in charcoal and
oil pastel |
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indulging in embroidery, sewing,
knitting, and also spending time
with the fabulous ladies in my
craft circles |
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maintaining my pottager garden,
"The Edible Jungle", and cooking
or preserving the goodies that
come out of it |
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enjoying my rose garden that
keeps expanding every year |
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painting Friendship Stones
(popular with young and old, and
sought after as corporate gifts)
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blogging—when there is time! |
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creative and
literary interests |
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One of
my earliest memories is of pulling
myself up to draw at my child-sized
blackboard before I could walk. As
a child, I didn't go anywhere without a
pencil and paper in my bag, and friends
and family members all became the
subjects of my childish caricatures.
Likewise,
I have been composing stories for as
long as I can remember, with my earliest
samples (a page of blue and red
scribbles) retained for posterity by
Mum, along with the "English
translation" that I told her as I
scribbled. I appreciate that she
thought to grab for pen and paper and
take dictation, because it certainly
gives me an insight into the very
beginnings of my creative character.
I have
been sketching and painting in water-colours
and acrylics for many years. In
the mid-1980s I began composing India
ink and water-colour sketches of the
Taranaki landscape, particularly the
coastline. I went on to develop my
own portraiture style while living in
Germany in 1988.
During
the 1990s, my art was largely sidelined
as I concentrated on university studies
in history and literature, gaining my
MA(1st Class Hons) by thesis in 1998. When
time permitted, I designed and created
stage sets, backdrops and costumes for
the University of Waikato’s theatre
group, which benefited considerably from
the proceeds when my stage backdrops
were auctioned.
With an
eye for the quizzical and the
unexpected, I enjoy painting quirky
still life images and ethereal
landscapes. I enjoy working to achieve a
balance of colour, light and engaging
composition in my art.
I studied
visual art styles and media at
Queensland’s Brisbane Institute of Art,
including egg-tempera and gold-leaf,
life drawing, and icon painting. The
Brisbane Institute of Art has exhibited
my life drawings.
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business
interests |
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When I was very
young, I decided that I wanted to buy a
horse, so I saved up my pocket money
(50¢ a week) and money given to me for
birthdays or Christmases and bought
myself a horse when I was about 11 years
old. The only problem was, I hadn't
factored in the costs of tack, grazing,
or anything else a horse might need. The
savings plan was great, but the lack of
insight into all that owing a horse
would entail wasn't too hot! It was a
good lesson.
Since then, I have knuckled down to
learn about about finances, business
processes, business law, and the
management of staff and client
relationships. My past business record
is too long and boring to list here, but
I am happy to provide a detailed CV to
prospective business service clients.
I
have provided business development
services to companies in a range of
industries, including civil construction
and roading, property development,
barbering, and kitset homes. My record
includes considerable increases in
profit margins, the implementation of
time-saving systems and processes,
the recruitment and retention of stable
permanent workforces and strong casual
workforces, and the awarding of Best
Emerging Business to one of my clients
in the 2006 Taranaki Chamber of Commerce
Business Awards. |
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meg in a
nutshell... |
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If I'm not
doing something
creative,
I'm reading
about creative
things, thinking
about creating
stuff or
sleeping while
hand-made stuff sets or
dries. The
creative part of
my brain rarely
rests—I even
come up with new
designs for
paintings in my
sleep.
Oh,
and I manage
GreenSplash as
well.
I would love to
visit Antarctica
one day, but
haven't got
there yet—I can't
decide which
paints to pack.
I feel blessed
to be forging an
occupation out
of my creative
and business interests, and I
am very grateful
to Andrew, my
wonderful
husband, for
supporting me on
that path.
Mind you, he
does get fed
pretty well on
days I work from
home, so I
suppose there's
something in it
for him! |
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